I don’t know of anyone who opposes the protection of great apes, and I know no one who is fighting for the preservation of bacterial species that are lethal to human beings. — There are kinds as well as degrees of intelligence. A recent book by Michael Corballis, ‘The Recursive Mind,’ outlines a type of thinking unknown to our gifted, nonhuman relatives.His earlier book, ‘The Lopsided Ape,’ also deals with the fallacy of “degree, not kind:” approach to intelligence.

…If ‘intelligence’(however you choose to measure it) was the differentiator between the things we eat and the things we nuture…

NAN,I nurture cows and chickens. As I kindly care for them and watch them grow, a relationship evolves between us (this happens with vegetables too).Then I eat them. The less separated I am from my home, family and food and water, the better I feel. I see many kinds of intelligence, and then degrees. My dog…

Tending animals with the intention of killing and eating them when they are young isn’t nuturing, its utilitarian exploitation. Do you similarly ‘kindly care’ for your children and parents? Thought not.

NAN, are you opposed to all domesticated animals? They were selectively bred for thousands of years to give them the usefulness they have now.(utilitarian exploitation).

It seems to me we are culturally inseparable from our domesticated animals.

Healthy relationships with these animals and all people involves caring for the health and wellbeing of ALL, while they’re still alive. Right now.

Many animals and people will die of old age. Many animals will be eaten by people. My intention is to eat some animals. This is part of my heritage, and what the animals were bred for. I see no reason why this should change the good relationship we have while they’re alive.

If your postings are satirical, they went over my head. And if they aren’t, I just can’t comprehend the humanity that they reflect. If you haven’t yet, please read Johnathan Swift’s “A Modest Proposal”.

NAN, you initiated the cannibalism topic. “If ‘intelligence’(however you choose to measure it) was the differentiator between the things we eat and the things we nuture, human meat would be a goodly part of out diet, with a glut in HumCo.”

And then you reply to my light-hearted comment: “And if ‘cultural taboos’ are what prevents you from killing and eating children, you’re a very sick person indeed.”

Now I’m curious. Apparently you think it is intelligence that prevents one from killing and eating children. And so I ask you,

NAN, what prevents you from killing and eating children?

No NAN, I have never read the complete text of Johnathan Swift’s “A Modest Proposal”. I did however just read some online excerpts. And I will never read this book, or watch snuff movies or excessively violent movies.
Johnathan Swift was obviously intelligent and logical. Jonathan Swift was a monster. The whole idea of eating people is repulsive to me. Mr. Swift was Intelligent, logical, but insane by my cultural standards.

…Swift suggests that impoverished Irish might ease their economic troubles by selling their children as food for rich gentlemen and ladies.[2] This satirical hyperbole mocks heartless attitudes towards the poor, as well as Irish policy in general.

…This essay is widely held to be one of the greatest examples of sustained irony in the history of the English language. Much of its shock value derives from the fact that the first portion of the essay describes the plight of starving beggars in Ireland, so that the reader is unprepared for the surprise of Swift’s solution when he states, “A young healthy child well nursed, is, at a year old, a most delicious nourishing and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked, or boiled; and I make no doubt that it will equally serve in a fricassee, or a ragoust.”[1]

Thank you all. I guess I should have read wiki instead of excerpts from Swift’s book. History has shown that the inhabitants of the British Isles were treated horribly by the English, and I took what I read at face value. I’m relieved to discover that even in the intense racism and imperialism and attitudes of the times, Swift’s book was viewed as satire.

Comprehension of satire does not always come naturally or easy. A few years ago I wrote about a formative experience in college where a young man was pilloried because most of his fellow students didn’t catch on to it.